Tragedy in Monterey Park
In Monterey Park, tragedy struck the community when a 28-year-old woman, identified as Desiree Perez, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The incident occurred close to midnight at the intersection of Graves Avenue and Cecil Street.
Perez faces serious charges including DUI, endangering a minor, and three counts of vehicular manslaughter. She is currently held on $500,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in Alhambra Superior Court next Monday, according to jail records.
The tragic event involved five people traveling in a Jeep Cherokee, reportedly leaving a family gathering. As the vehicle headed towards Garfield Avenue, Perez lost control, striking a curb, a tree, a wall, and three parked cars in front of a house.
The accident resulted in the death of three passengers, one of whom was ejected from the vehicle and landed on the roof of a nearby home.
While Perez and her 7-year-old daughter were secured with seat belts, unfortunately, the three deceased were not wearing protective gear. Authorities have not fully disclosed the identities of the victims, but it is known that they include two men and one woman.
On Saturday, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office identified one of the deceased as 34-year-old Alexander Cota Jr., who was found dead inside the vehicle according to the coroner's report.
All occupants of the Jeep knew each other, though it has not yet been confirmed if they all lived together. Authorities continue to investigate the speed at which the vehicle was traveling prior to impact.
Fortunately, none of the residents of the affected house were injured, though one described how the accident caused damage to the home's windows and resulted in smoke, dust, and debris entering.
This tragic incident has left the community in shock, and investigations are ongoing to determine all circumstances that led to this devastating loss of life.
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